Just thought I'd throw this out there--I know we have a lot of bright, accomplished members with great ideas...

Any ideas for how to get more sales? Ideas like businesses, industries, websites to partner with, places to advertise, pricing/packaging strategy....anything!

Right now we rely on search engines and word of mouth, which has been very successful, but limited.

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Steve, Webmaster

How about an ad in Excelsior's "Live and Learn" magazine?

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ShotoJuku +
A.S., B.S., M.S.

Always be ready to release your mind and be willing to listen to the advice of others. Remain flexible. - Gichin Funakoshi

Steve,

As for word of mouth, I pass to everyone I know who is truly interested in taking exams to use this site. I have also posted a small flyer in our Navy College Office here in Pensacola.

As for attracting new members, how about opening up part of one of the flash cards to non-members so they can get a feel of what this site has to offer. I would recommend Intro to Sociology because of the high pass rate.

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Scott

Intro to Sociology
US History I
Civil War & Reconstruction
American Dream
Social Science & History

121 Credits total <--- All Done! ! ! ! !

AAT Technical Studies Excelsior College
(Grad Date 6/16)
BS in Liberal Studies Excelsior College
(September 2006)

I'd recommend partnering with Global Learning Strategies. Brad Voeller wrote the book that started my quest for a distance BA. Their motto is "Developing Leaders Through Distance Learning."
http://www.globallearningstrategies...._statement.php

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Crystal King
BS Liberal Studies 3.87
Preparing for GRE
Goal Master Library Science 2009

Ambition is the Path to success,
Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.

Steve,

I know this is still a form of "word of mouth", but what about promoting the posting of your flyer at testing centers through existing members?

Maybe you already do this (?), but you could offer $5 off a month's membership if members post the flyer at their testing center and you get new business as a result (isn't there some way for you to find out how the new member found out about you)?

When I told my CLEP test proctor about you, she was VERY interested and told me I could post your flyer there, which I plan to do the next time I go in. Also...do you have a similar flyer for DANTES? I could post that one when I take my next exams on 07/31.

Anyway, just my 2 cents worth! You have a great website, and I would love to help you get more business in any way I can. Keep up the great work - we all really appreciate what you've done here!

That's an excellent idea, and one I actually explored a couple of months ago......but I couldn't find any advertising in the magazine--at least the online version. Did I miss something?

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Steve, Webmaster

Very cool idea. Actually, someone I had spoken to a couple of years ago had once worked for Global Learning Strategies... I'm going to look further into that idea. Thanks!

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Steve, Webmaster

First of all, thanks for posting the flyer for us!

As for your idea about opening up a section, we're probably not going to do that since we tried something similar a year or two ago, but the results were not convincing... Lengthening the decision-making process seemed to reduce overall sales.

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Steve, Webmaster

Nice idea! Actually, we already have a member referral program. You sign up to be an affiliate, and you put your custom discount code on the flyer. When someone signs up on InstantCert using that code, you get referral credit for it. Check it out on the main members page (http://www.instantcertonline.com/members2/members.php4)

And oh yeah, thanks for telling your testing proctor about us!

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Steve, Webmaster

I'll check it for you tomorrow morning.

__________________
ShotoJuku +
A.S., B.S., M.S.

Always be ready to release your mind and be willing to listen to the advice of others. Remain flexible. - Gichin Funakoshi